New canine selected for ICSO K-9 team

The 2 1/2-year-old Dutch shepherd, named Dinar, was selected from among four dogs that were brought in by Vigilant Canine Services International.

Karen Botakaren.bota@sentinel-standard.com

The Ionia County Sheriff's Office K-9 unit will be joined by a new dog this month.The 2 1/2-year-old Dutch shepherd, named Dinar, was selected from among four dogs that were brought in by Vigilant Canine Services International.Dinar will replace Kramer, the sheriff's office's current canine, who will retire once Dinar is road-ready. Deputy Dion Sower, Kramer's handler for almost eight years, will work with Dinar, too. Kramer will continue to reside with Sower after retirement.Dinar has received some training, and is guaranteed by Vigilant Canine Services International in both health and police work performance for five years, said Ionia County Sheriff Dale Miller."They run through basic search and subject control, so they're to the point of getting used to a regular handler," Miller said. "Some things they don't teach, because the wording (for certain directions) has to come from the handler."Sower and Dinar will attend a five-week, 200-hour initial basic handlers course later this month as a team.Deputy Rick Straubel, who has worked with Kramer while Sower has been on vacation and has trained with the dog, will be available for K-9 duty while Sower and Dinar are in training."The new dog will be out after he passes tests and certifications," said Miller. "The dog is very intelligent. He seemed to learn fast and had a ton of energy. I have no doubt they'll make it in five weeks as a team."The Dutch shepherd resembles the German shepherd but is smaller, Miller said. The smaller-sized dog was recommended, because sometimes the officer has to pick it up to put it through a window or up a ladder."It's easier to move the dog from point A to point B," he added.The Ionia County Board of Commissioners approved the contract with Vigilant Canine Services International to provide the dog to the sheriff's office at its Sept. 24 meeting.The sheriff's office raised more than $13,000 for the K-9 unit and the purchase of the dog and training.Contributors included Ionia County Commissioner Jack Shattuck, TRW Automotive in Portland, Michigan One Credit Union, Thomas and Barbara Fagerlin of Belding, students from Belding Elementary School, who sold "puppy chow" as a fundraiser, and the Jessica Nagle-Wilson Charitable Foundation, "who gave two large sums to help us reach our goal," Miller said."It takes a community to prevent crime, and these individuals are great examples of that," said Miller. "Their donations allowed us to purchase a tool that will aid us in the detection and prevention of crime."Follow Karen Bota on Twitter @KarenB_ISS.